Song about war and peace

Nikon D80 28-70 Tokina f/2.8

Mike Rutherford from Genesis wrote the lyrics of this song by Genesis for their 1986 album Invisible Touch. A lot of truth back then and so much of it is true now. Disturbed remake the song and here is the lyric.

DISTURBED LYRICS

"Land Of Confusion"

[Originally by Genesis]

I must have dreamed a thousand dreams
Been haunted by a million screams
But I can hear the marching feet
They're moving into the street

Now, did you read the news today?
They say the danger has gone away
But I can see the fire's still alight
They're burning into the night

There's too many men, too many people
Making too many problems
And there's not much love to go around
Can't you see this is a land of confusion?

This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth living in

Oh, superman, where are you now?
When everything's gone wrong somehow?
The men of steel, these men of power
Are losing control by the hour

This is the time, this is the place
So we look for the future
But there's not much love to go around
Tell me why this is a land of confusion

This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth living in

I remember long ago
When the sun was shining
And all the stars were bright all through the night
In the wake of this madness, as I held you tight
So long ago

I won't be coming home tonight
My generation will put it right
We're not just making promises
That we know we'll never keep

There's too many men, too many people
Making too many problems
And there's not much love to go round
Can't you see this is a land of confusion?

Now, this is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth fighting for

This is the world we live in
And these are the names we're given
Stand up and let's start showing
Just where our lives are going to.

Faith

Photograph courtesy of Sharina

The idea of modernity is difficult to pin down. For some modernity implies cultural behavior that takes advantage of technological advances in order to live and relate to others in their own ways. Relating to others will put you in restlessness. Putting your faith in others (which is worse) means you are going to set yourself up for a loss. Instead you are better and wiser to put faith in yourself and God. Do you really know another person completely? You may think you do, but really when it comes down to it you know nothing. You may think you know how another person thinks, speaks or will react in a given situation but, as is with many things in life, there is always the element of surprise. This happens to all of us on a much smaller scale everyday. When you talk to somebody they may say something that to you that is completely unexpected and out of the ordinary, which will again make you think.

All the good hearts have been taken
No more hearts around here were breaking.................
All I got to keep is strong so move along......
[All American Rejects]

Begging for mercy

Nikon D40 50mm f/1.8

I don’t really fancy asking favors from people but it is not always avoidable. Even though I’m aware that it’s not their obligation to fulfill my request, I am still disturbed with the negative responses. It is like begging for mercy.

The same goes with operating digital camera or automatic genre. You are begging the processors to do all the calculations for you so that you can concentrate on composition. If the battery fails or the chips went bonkers, you are left with no mercy. There are too many reasons on why I chose Nikon FM2 (or my trustworthy Olympus OM-1). I can shoot all day and night from the Arctic to Sahara. A couple of batteries will last me years and even if they went dead, I can still rely on the Sunny16 rules as long as I have films in my pocket. Not to mention the synchronization flash speed of 1/250s (my D80 is a step backward with1/200s) and a really fast shutter of 1/4000s. The metal felt good in my hand and the solid metal gives me confidence of its reliability. Now with the newly acquired Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 excellent optics, it can only get better. As my own style of photography slowly evolved, at last I knew what I needed. Being purely mechanical, and one of the most reliable cameras Nikon has ever made, its small size means that you can carry everywhere and in action. Shooting is fun again and I am looking forward to explore more with this wide optics.

Cognize

Nikon D40 28-70 F/2.8 Tokina

What do the others think about me? Well, I have recently found out that many times, putting myself in other peoples' places, I can analyze me from outside, objectively. Going further, to my emotional intelligence...what should I say? I believe I have some work to do in this area. Although I am aware of my emotions and feelings, I perceive them, it is rather hard to asses, control or manage them at times. I am a rather impulse-driven person, but I believe I have made considerable progress in this area. A question that pops in my mind now and then. Do I know myself? To tell you the truth, I don’t. Or is it this more serious side? Or maybe both? I have absolutely no idea. I just know that my thoughts, my actions all depend on what I feel. Another fool guided by heart you would say.... but I am learning.

Leading to some books I was reading recently (thanks Foozi)- on what is the essence of the teachings of the Prophets, how is it related to Sufism, and what is its relevance for today? If we look objectively and with sincerity at the lives and teachings of the Holy Prophets, it will be very clear that their lives were devoted to announcing, and sharing with others, their unique discovery. The method through which they had arrived at their discovery was not because of what others had said before them, or because they feared or trusted someone. Instead, they had an innate unquenchable urge to "know" which could not be satisfied except through personal experiences.

Mohammad gave directives as to how one can cognize one’s true self. He said,

"Whoever cognized his true self has cognized God."

In essence, this is what the message of all Prophets has been through time: Know yourself. Know the "being" who is everlasting and not restricted to the body, to desires, and all the action and reaction that takes place continuously. The Prophets are not addressing the elements that make up the various organs including the brain, the memory and the senses. They are not addressing the behaviors learned through the various socialization processes. They are addressing the "being" who has existed ever since the baby was born, and continued to be constant through out the changes that the child underwent until it reached adulthood. Everything changed –the body, ideas, ideals, thoughts, goals, et.—but the "being" called "I" always remained constant.

Sufism is a discipline, a method and a way that teaches humans how to discover and unfold their true self, the "I". Know the "being" who is your true identity, the source of your becoming, the source of knowledge, so you may live in peace and balance. Sufism is the method through which the Prophets attained the cognition of God, and their true self.

Wallahualam.

Silver gelatin

Nikon D80 Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 Macro

This year seems a bit funny with my photographic interest. When I was tidying up my three layers drybox, I discovered so many camera bodies and quite a number of film SLRs as well (Canon AV-1, Canon AE-1, Olympus OM-1N, Nikon FE2, Nikon F301, Nikon F50 and a few excellent primes with f/1.4). Having owned and extensively used Nikon D50, D40 and D80 with arrays of optics and accessories, I was thinking if I am actually an artist or just computer operators. Chimping with the LCDs and post processing with Photoshop, Lightroom etc., do not make me an artist.

Last week, I loaded my FE2 with TX (silver gelatin). Suddenly I am like a young boy again, toying with the camera that has been around my neck since the late 70s. So easy with no complication whatsoever. Yes its not as convenient, but I am now the artist, not the computer operator anymore. I have to consider technique and light again and use my judgment. I started using my tripod more with the cable release attached. A bit troublesome, but discreetly interesting, cheap and very satisfying. Tomorrow, I'll get my negs developed at Dragon. If things turned out good, I'll use my cheap scanner and save some prints for the family album. Less money spent and hopefully no redundancy.

Too much too long.

Nikon D80 60mm f/2.8 Macro Nikkor

I'm concerned about myself. The long unproductive break was heading me nowhere. I was in the meeting room, as always for the past 10 years. Shall I call the dealer “for a trade in?”. What will I do with the “new toy”? I guess I have been dealing with the same old stuff far too long. I compromised too much and looked the other way far too long. I'm sick of it. Listen up pal. This is the way things are going to work this year. No more bright television lights. I want every single one of those damn things turned off. Of course you keep seeing your shadow; a pilot could land a 747 at KLIA with just the beacon of lights that illuminate the place but you could still see your shadow. Ditch the light everyone because I am comfortable with the mysterious darkness.

The chairman hailed from the front; “Have you got anything to say?” I was reaching out for my stuff and packed them in my Transit Sleeve. I was more than ready to leave.